Nut-tapping machine.



R.J.RODD.

N UT I'AIPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILB'D NOV. 4, 1905.

928,333. Patented July 20,1909;

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R. J. RODD. NUT TAPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1905.

we m n 3 ym mm a m MM 3 3 3 8 2 9 (SQWML/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. RODD, OF GUYAHOGA FALLS, OHIO.

N UT-TAPPING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. R01 1 ,'a citizen of the United States,residing at Ouyahoga Falls, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Nut-TappingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of the invention is to provide means for automaticallyrotating the tap spindle of a nut tapping machine first in one directionand then in the reverse direction, and for raising and lowering saidshaft at the proper times.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a machine in which theinvention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is acentral vertical sectional view through the tap spindle quill and itsassociated parts. Fig. at is a development of the disk carrying the camsfor raising and lowering the belt shifter and for operating the clutch.l ig. 5 is a development of the cam by which the tap shaft is raised.Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the belt S and the pulleys overwhich it runs.

The invention, as shown, is embodied in a machine which is in itsgeneral characteristics substantially like that which forms the subjectmatter of the W'ood patent No. 785,464. The use of the present inventionis not, however, limited to such a machine.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents the tap spindle which isvertically movable through a rotatable quill B. This quill is rotatablymounted in the two horizontal frame members C, C, which maintain saidquill in the same axial line, and the quill is additionally providedwith a thrust ball bearing a at its upper end, and a step bearing a atits lower end to prevent endwise movement. The tap spindle is providedwith a groove a, which is fitted to a corresponding tongue in the quill,whereby these parts are compelled to rotate in unison, although the tapspindle may be moved up and down independently of the quill, asrequired. On the quill is a fast pulley b, and just above this fastpulley a loose pulley i/ is mounted. Just below the fast pulley thequill is provided with. one member 6 of a cone clutch. Just below thisand loosely en'ibracing the quill is the other member D of said coneclutch, which member has around its lower edge the gear teeth (Z. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 4, 1905.

Patented July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 286,835.

clutch member D is cored out to lighten it, and in its bottom is anannular recess d, into which is screwed the collar l9 having the annularexternal flange 6. This collar is made of hardened steel, and it restsupon a row of balls F seated in an annular race way in the top of avertically movable plate G in which the quill freely rotates. This platerests upon springs H which enter holes 0 in the frame member O, and aresupported upon adjustable plugs J which are screwed into said holes fromthe bottom. The springs H, which support this plate, are sufficientlypowerful to lift the plate and thereby the clutoh member D, so as tocause it to frictionally engage the clutch member 6 The plate G, has,however, laterally projecting pins g placed at diametrically oppositepositions; and these pins serve to pivotally connect with said plate, afork lever K which is pivoted to the frame member O. A roller 7c ismounted in this lever.

M represents a vertical cam shaft which may be caused to rotate by theworm a on the main driving shaft N of the machine, which worm engageswith the worm wheel at on the shaft M. The latter shaft carries a camdisk P. On the under face of the disk is a cam 32, which extendsapproximately one-third of the distance around said disk and is in aposition to engage with the roller Z2, and thereby swing the lever Kdownward. This, of course, draws down the plate G, which plate carriesfingers g whose upper ends overhang the flange 6 on the collar E..Wherefore the downward movement of the plate G results in drawing downthe clutch member D and thereby disconnecting it from the member Z2 Thegear teeth around the lower edge of the clutch member D mesh with anidler gear 0, which in turn meshes with a gear 1* attached to a verticalshaft R, on which is a wide pulley 'r". \Vhere are two other verticalshafts, located at the right end of the machine which are indicatedrespectively by T and Q. The first of these shafts is driven from theshaft N by beveled gears 11/ and t. On the shaft Q is a pulley g and onshaft T is a pulley t. A belt, which is only shown by dotted lines inFig. 6, is indicated by S, and it runs around the pulleys r, t, g, andthe pulleys t or Z) on the quill B, following the course indicated inFig. 6. This belt is driven by the pulley t, and it in turn drives theother pulleys around which it runs. The resulting rotation of the shaftR is transmitted through the gears 1' and 0 to the gear d on the clutchmember D, wherefore this latter member is constantly rotated.

A belt shifter U slides upon two vertical fixed rods 0 c",a frictionroller 1% is mounted on this belt shifter,.rotating on a horizontalaxis. This roller extends over, and is adapted to be engaged by the camshaped flange p", which extends up from the disk P.

On the shaft M, above the frame member 0 there is another cam V. Aforked lever WV has inwardly projecting studs w, which project intoholes in the shoes X,-said shoes lying loosely in a circumferentialgroove (11/ in the upper end of the tap spindle. At the opposite end ofthis lever are pins w which project from a collar m loosely mounted onthe uper end of the shaft M between the two shoulders m m thereon, andenter loosely into holes in said lever. A roller 'w is mounted on thislever 1V and engages with the cam V.

The operation of the described mechanism is as follows: WVhen the tapspindle is allowed to move downwa-rd,its own weight being sufficient to,cause this movement-the belt shifter is lifted by cam 29 so that thebelt runs on the idle pulley Z). Then the cam 29 passes off of theroller and thereupon the springs I-I push the plate" G up- 1 ward andcause the frictional engagement of the clutch members D and Z2 Theresult is that the quill B and tap spindle are rotated by means of gearsr and 0 in the direction to thread the nut. lVhen this has beenaccomplished the cam 37 engages with the roller is depressing the leverK and thereby disconnecting the clutch member D and clutch member 6 Thencam- 79 passes out from under the roller u, whereupon a spring Y forcesthe beltshifter downward, carrying the belt onto the fast pulley I), theresult being to rotate the tap spindle in the opposite direction andthereby to withdraw it from the nut. Then the cam V engaging with rollerw rocks it and lifts the tap spindle, and the parts continue insubstantially the position described until the tap has been withdrawnfrom the nut.

The various operations above described are repeated automatically.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a nut tapping machine, the com.- bination of a quill rotatableupon a vertical axis, a clutch member fast to said quill, mechanism fordriving the quill in one direc tion, and means for rendering. saiddriving means inoperative at certan times, with a vertically movable tapspindle passing axially through said quill and having a tongue andgroove connection therewith, means for moving said tap spindlevertically in said quill, a constantly driven clutch member looselyembracing the quill below the fast ward, means for drawing said platedownward, a finger secured to said plate and projecting upwardtherefrom, and an annular flange on the last mentioned clutch memberwith which said finger engages.

2. In a nut tapping mechanism, the combination of a quill rotatable upona vertical axis, a clutch member fast to said quill, mechanism fordriving the quill in one direction, and means for rendering said drivingmeans inoperative at certain times, with a vertically movable tapspindle passing axially through said quill and having a tongue andgroove connection therewith, means for moving said tap spindlevertically in said quill, a constantly driven clutch member looselyembracing the quill below the fast clutch member, a vertically movablehorizontal plate embracing said quill below the last mentioned clutchmember and having an annular ball race way in its top surface, balls insaid race way upon which the constantly driven clutch member rests,springs on which said plate rests and which act to thrust it upward, andmeans for drawing said plate downward.

3. In a nut tapping machine, the combination of a quill rotatable upon avertical axis and a clutch member and pulley fast to said i quill, apulley loose upon said quill, a belt adapted tov engage either ofsaidpulleys, and i a belt shifter, with a vertically movable tap spindlepassing axially through said quill i and having a tongue and grooveconnection therewith, a constantly driven clutch member looselyembracing said quill below the fast clutch member, a vertically movablehorizontal plate below said clutch member and serving as a supporttherefor, springs uponwhich said plate rests which act to thrust itupward, mechanism for drawing said plate downward and for simultaneously1 operating the belt shifter.

4. In a nut tapping machine, the combination of a quill rotatable upon avertical axis having a stepped hearing at its lower end and a thrustbearing at its upper end, a conical clutch member and a pulley fast tosaid quill, mechanism for driving said pulley, and means for renderingsuch driving means ineffective at certain tlmes, a conical clutch memberloosely embracing the quill and having an annular gear upon its lowerend, a pinion engaging said gear, and means for raising and loweringsaid clutch member, and a tapshaft passing axially through said quilland having a tongue and groove connection therewith, and means formoving said tap shaft vertically through the quill.

In a nut tapping machine, the combination of a quill rotatably mountedupon a vertical axis, a clutch member and a pulley fast to said quill,means from driving the fast pulley, and means for rendering such drivingmeans ineffective at times, with a constantly driven clutch memberloosely embracing the quill below the fast clutch me1nber,-- a plateloosely embracing said quill below said clutch member and serving as asupport therefor, and having recesses in its lower face, a fixed platehaving recesses in its top face, spring coils whose lower ends enter therecesses in the fixed plate and whose upper ends enter the recesses inthe other plate, and screws that screw vertically through the recessesin the fixed plate against the lower ends of said springs.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

ROBERT J. RODD. .Vitnesses E. L. THURSTON, F. B. Glnoi-rnis'r.

